Sources: McCain backer fabricated attack
Pittsburgh police earlier said she took polygraph due to inconsistencies
msnbc.com staff and news service reports
updated 2:32 p.m. ET, Fri., Oct. 24, 2008
PITTSBURGH - A John McCain volunteer in Pittsburgh who said she was robbed and sexually assaulted because of her political views has admitted to fabricating the story, police sources told a TV station.

KDKA TV added that one source said Ashley Todd would face charges.

Police have not formally announced the fabrication, acknowledging only that detectives in the case were meeting with the force's public information officers.

Todd, of College Station, Texas, earlier agreed to take a polygraph test due to inconsistencies.

Among other things, police said photos and bank card information from an automated teller machine where the college student claimed she was robbed do not show her using the machine at the time, police said.

Police said the Todd, who is white, told them she was attacked by a 6-foot-4 black man Wednesday night.

Other differences in her accounts are whether she lost consciousness, whether she remembers handing over money and how the man assaulted her, police said.

GOP candidates call her
The report of the attack prompted the Republican presidential candidate and his running mate, Sarah Palin, to call Todd expressing their concern. Barack Obama's campaign also issued a statement wishing Todd well and hoping the attacker would be swiftly brought to justice.

The Associated Press could not immediately locate Todd or her family.

Ethan Eilon, executive director of the College Republican National Committee, told reporters that Todd worked in New York for several months before moving to Pennsylvania two weeks ago to continue working for the group.

Eilon declined to comment on the investigation Friday or to help The Associated Press contact Todd. In a follow-up e-mail, Eilon said, "We think this girl has endured enough and that this is going to be something for her and her family to work through."

In her initial account, Richard said, Todd attempted to use the ATM when the man approached her from behind, put a knife with a 4- to 5-inch blade to her throat and demanded money. She told police she handed the assailant $60 and walked away.

Todd told investigators that she suspected the man then noticed a John McCain sticker on her car, became angry and punched her in the back of the head, knocking her to the ground and telling her "you are going to be a Barack supporter," police said in a statement.

She said he continued to punch and kick her while threatening "to teach her a lesson for being a McCain supporter," police said. She said he then sat on her chest, pinned her hands down with his knees and scratched a backward letter "B" into her face using what she believed to be a dull knife.

The woman told police she didn't seek medical attention, but instead went to a friend's apartment nearby and called police about 45 minutes later.

In the subsequent discussions with investigators, according to the police statement, Todd said she was accosted as she approached the bank and fled her attacker, fell to the ground and the assailant began beating and fondling her.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
URL: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27350530/

Leftoverhard

10-24-2008, 02:03 PM

That is crazy. :hypno:
She should have carved an O.

Vis

10-24-2008, 02:05 PM

:wink02:I'm just wondering what her SF name is.

Hammer67

10-24-2008, 02:30 PM

As soon as I saw "msnbc.com" as the source of this I tuned out....

Vis

10-24-2008, 02:31 PM

As soon as I saw "msnbc.com" as the source of this I tuned out....

And the KDKA?

Leftoverhard

10-24-2008, 02:38 PM

As soon as I saw "msnbc.com" as the source of this I tuned out....

:noidea:

we need a tunnelvision avatar.

fansince'76

10-24-2008, 02:44 PM

:wink02:I'm just wondering what her SF name is.

Pretty ironic coming from someone who, from recent posting history anyway, apparently lives in a world of Tom Clancy novels, "Right-Wing conspiracy" theories, and sees ominous black helicopters with every turn. You're about as funny as a migraine and not even remotely as "cute" and "clever" as you seem to think you are. Cut the shit already.

NJarhead

10-24-2008, 02:47 PM

:blah: :jerkit:

Some... people just can't be considered positive contributors to this forum. It's sad.

Vis

10-24-2008, 02:47 PM

Pretty ironic coming from someone who, from recent posting history anyway, apparently lives in a world of Tom Clancy novels, "Right-Wing conspiracy" theories, and sees ominous black helicopters with every turn. You're about as funny as a migraine and not even remotely as "cute" and "clever" as you seem to think you are. Cut the shit already.

I'm guessing you know her.

Preacher

10-24-2008, 02:51 PM

:blah: :jerkit:

Some... people just can't be considered positive contributors to this forum. It's sad.

Not sure which way to take this comment... could you clarify...

because personally, I feel that people need to positively contribute before they are considered positive contributors.

Since most of us back off the partisanship... there has been some good discussion from both sides. That is positive contribution. Attributing a young lady who will probably turn out to have some emotional unbalance (usually these things are gasps for attention) to a poster here is not a positive contributor.

NJarhead

10-24-2008, 02:58 PM

Not sure which way to take this comment... could you clarify...

because personally, I feel that people need to positively contribute before they are considered positive contributors.

Since most of us back off the partisanship... there has been some good discussion from both sides. That is positive contribution. Attributing a young lady who will probably turn out to have some emotional unbalance (usually these things are gasps for attention) to a poster here is not a positive contributor.

Specifically Preach, I'm referring to this idiot.

:noidea:

we need a tunnelvision avatar.

Vis

10-24-2008, 03:01 PM

Not sure which way to take this comment... could you clarify...

because personally, I feel that people need to positively contribute before they are considered positive contributors.

Since most of us back off the partisanship... there has been some good discussion from both sides. That is positive contribution. Attributing a young lady who will probably turn out to have some emotional unbalance (usually these things are gasps for attention) to a poster here is not a positive contributor.

Humorless bunch here. It's an off the cuff joke. Part of backing off the heated partisanship is laughing about it.

Some here can take it as they dish it. Suit can. XFL can. HTG can. Some just call others names or call them ignorant. Who was that, Preacher? Smell what you shovel about you backing off anything.

AD had great posts and he's stopped because of the acceptance of attacks in one direction and not the other. So say what you will about my posts, or call Goodell. you won't hear me whine about the other side's unnecessary roughness.

NJarhead

10-24-2008, 03:07 PM

Humorless bunch here. It's an off the cuff joke. Part of backing off the heated partisanship is laughing about it.

Some here can take it as they dish it. Suit can. XFL can. HTG can. Some just call others names or call them ignorant. Who was that, Preacher? Smell what you shovel about you backing off anything.
AD had great posts and he's stopped because of the acceptance of attacks in one direction and not the other. So say what you will about my posts, or call Goodell. you won't hear me whine about the other side's unnecessary roughness.

I'm right here punk. Address me if you want to start something too. Don't play cute.

Vis

10-24-2008, 03:11 PM

I'm right here punk. Address me if you want to start something too. Don't play cute.

I'm sorry. I wasn't referring to you. Did I miss something? Seriously, "punk"? Are you in internet badass mode? You're very impressive.

You can't see it but there's a battery on my shoulder. Knock it off.

NJarhead

10-24-2008, 03:15 PM

I'm sorry. I wasn't referring to you. Did I miss something? Seriously, "punk"? Are you in internet badass mode? You're very impressive.

You can't see it but there's a battery on my shoulder. Knock it off.

Then who were you referring to? Yes, I am the antithesis of an "internet smartass." Har, har, on the battery comment. I guess you can virtually go %^&* yourself.

Leftoverhard

10-24-2008, 03:16 PM

humorless indeed. I would have thought it was funny if the tables were turned. There are a lot of funny/sarcastic posters on this board. I guess they're all on their lunch break, although I've seen Preacher lighthearted before. This thread is not partisan - it's about a nut - and it's funny. If it was about a girl who had actually been attacked, it would not be funny - but since she lied and was just a loopy jerk trying to get attention - and dangerously so - then it's hilarious.
When a guy clicks on a thread and doesn't even read it because it says what he perceives as a dirty word: MSNBC and won't even read it and then bothers to reply, that's pretty partisan.
When another guy makes an obvious joke, that's pretty funny and could easily be laughed at be anyone, I don't see the problem?

Preacher

10-24-2008, 03:17 PM

I'm right here punk. Address me if you want to start something too. Don't play cute.

In all fairness, he was posting to me.

VIS.

I didn't find it appropriate because she lied and made an accusation based on racial stereotypes which greatly offends me... then you associated that with one of us, indirectly accusing us of holding to those racial stereotypes.

Maybe that went through you mind.. probably not. But can you see my point of view now? Why I took a bit of offense to it when you probably didn't intend for it to be offensive?